Golden Gobblers awarded at USTA St. Louis Turkey Trot-Off tournament

Dozens of tennis players “trotted off” the tryptophan the Sunday after Thanksgiving at the USTA St. Louis Turkey Trot-Off event at Vetta Sports Concord.

The Level 6 one-day adult tournament on Nov. 30 was one of a string of similar tournaments that area tennis players gobbled up while awaiting the return of warmer temperatures.

A Level 7 adult one-night mixed doubles tourney took place Nov. 1 at Forest Lake Tennis Club. An unsanctioned doubles event and fundraiser occurred Oct. 11 on the clay courts of The Highlands Golf & Tennis Center. And a Level 7 mixed doubles one-night tourney happened on Sept. 27 at Chesterfield Athletic Club.

USTA St. Louis Executive Director Megan Kovacs served as tournament director of the Turkey Trot-Off. Winners of each division received Golden Gobbler trophies as their reward.

An open mixed doubles division was offered for advanced competitors, while 18 & Over mixed doubles NTRP combo 7.0 and 8.0 divisions were likewise available and featured strong participation numbers.

Additionally, 18 & Over divisions were offered for 4.0 women’s singles, 3.5 women’s doubles and 3.5 men’s doubles. In total, more than 65 participants competed at the tournament.

Matches were best two of three short sets to four games with a 7-point tiebreaker in lieu of a third set. Food and snacks were provided and a full-service cash bar was available.

Champions from the event were as follows:

Mixed 7.0 Doubles: Emily Salter and Jim Salter / Kristen Armstrong and Rob Armstrong

Mixed 8.0 Doubles: Celine Edstrom and Stephen Barker / Smeet Merchant and Trinity Lopez / John Omoresemi and Heidy Weicht

Mixed Open Doubles: Rebecca Falkner Axelrod and Noah Axelrod

Women’s 3.5 Doubles: Holly Hamilton and Julie Edstrom

Men’s 3.5 Doubles: Gaurango Banerjee and Christopher Stark

Women’s 4.0 Singles: Kate Lam